Container structure with antigurgle pouring spout



W. F. PUNTE Nov. 30, 1954 CONTAINER STRUCTURE WITH ANTIGURGLE POURING SPOUT Filed Sept. 25, 1950 .u ruf,

MWL,

United States Patent O CONTAINER STRUCTURE WITH ANTIGURGLE POURING SPOUT William F. Punte, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Continental Can Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application September 25, 1950, Serial No. 186,656

9 Claims. (Cl. 222-489) The invention relates generally to container structures and primarily seeks to provide in such structures novel means for preventing gurgling of liquid as it is being poured from the container. t f

It is well known that in pouring liquid from a container through a restricted throat or spout, care must be exercised in providing for a suitable venting of the interior of the container in order to assure smooth and continuous outpouring of the liquid without gurgling. When proper venting is not provided for, the `outpouring liquid closes the outlet through the throat or spout against easy access of air into the container through said outlet, and the reduction of liquid volume within the container without replacement with` air results in the creation of a partial vacuum behind the outpouring liquid. This vacuum increases as the level of liquid is lowered, and each time the diminishing weight of the remaining liquid and the increasing vacuum approximately balance, the liquid flow is slowed down and a rush of air is forced into the container through the throat or spout to relieve the vacuum. This periodical inrushing of air causes uneven and unsteady owing of liquid from the throat or spout and produces a gurgling sound. lt is a purpose of the present invention to provide a container structure including a pouring throat or spout whereon is mounted a perforate flow controlling bafle including openings through which liquid may pass and which are arranged in a novel manner assuring proper venting of the container during the outpouring of liquid therefrom so that the liquid will pass out in an even and steady flow without gurgling.

An object of the invention is to provide an anti-gurgle means of the character stated in which the baille vent means is in the form of a cup-like body including a bottom or base wall disposed to traverse the pouring throat or spout and having liquid passing and venting apertures therein, and an annular wall provided with liquid passing and venting apertures.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container structure of the character stated in which the cup-like baifle vent means is supported at the entrance into a pouring spout.

Another object of the invenion is to provide a container structure of the character stated wherein the cuplike baflle vent means supporting spout has a swivel mounting on the container permitting turning of the spout outlet in different directions of inclination, and also projection and retraction of the spout between eifective pouring positions and an ineffective position retracted within the container.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container structure of the character stated in which novel means is included for effective primary and supplementary closures of the spout outlet.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container spout structure of the character stated in which the spout is flared to facilitate the clearing of liquid therethrough after it passes through the baffle vent means. Y

With the above .and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claims and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical cross ice section illustrating the invention, the spout being shown in the eifective projected position.

Figure 2. is a view similar to Figure l with the spout in the retracted position, primary and supplementary closures also being shown.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the cup-like baille per se before its attachment to the spout.

Figure 4 is a vertical cross section taken on the line 4-4 on Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical cross section illustrating the lower or entrant end portion of a spout with a modied form of cup-like balie attached thereto.

In the example of embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, 5 designates the top portion of a container structure of any approved form to which the breast generally designated 6 is secured, as by an interlocking flange union at 7, this ilange union preferably being solder bonded to provide a liquid seal.

The breast includes a main threaded body or upstanding wall portion 8 and an upstanding cylindrical portion `9 above the threads and which merges into an inwardly directed annulus 10. The annulus 10 is relatively narrow so as to provide an eicient seal seat for contact by a sealing gasket ring on a closure cap.

At its inner extremity the annulus 10 merges into a downwardly turned wall 11 which in turn merges into an inwardly turned step or shoulder 12. The shoulder 12 merges into another `downwardly turned wall 13 which is much deeper than the wall 11 and which merges into another inwardly turned step or shoulder 14 much wider than the shoulder 12 and which in turn merges into a downwardly turned friction ange or neck 15,.

The neck 15 provides a swivel mounting for a spout generally designated 16 and which is projectable and retractable through the neck between the effective projected position illustrated in Figure 1 and the retracted position illustrated in Figure 2.

The spout 16 has a main body portion 17 which is slightly ilared outwardly provided at its discharge end with an outwardly turned stop flange 18 preferably turned inwardly upon itself or hemmed as at 19. Inwardly of its outer extremity or discharge end the spout is provided with an inwardly turned bead vor seat 20, and the inner edge extremity of the ared body portion 17 of the spout is ilange and bead secured as at 21 to the swivel body portion of the spout generally designated 22. The body portion 22 includes a cylindrical portion 23 dimensioned to have a friction lit within the neck 15, and between said portion 23 and the union 21 a portion of the swivel body is part spherical as at 24 to permit free turning of the spout as it is moved between its projected and retracted positions and to provide an angular offsetting of the entrant and discharge ends of the spout so that when the spout is in its projected position illustrated in Figure l, the axis of the entrant end thereof will be co-axial with the axis of the pouring throat and the axis of the ared body portion 17 of the spout will bear angular relation to said entrant end axis. By turning the spout in its mounting in the neck 15 the direction of projection of the spout can be changed at will.

The lower end portion of the swivel body 22 is turned outwardly to provide a stop 25 engageable with the neck 15 and its ange secured as at 25, 26 to the outwardly turned upper edge extremity of a cup-like body having an annular side wall 27 and a bottom 28. The bottom 28 is equipped with a central aperture 29 and a plurality of surrounding, relatively smaller apertures 30. See Figures l and 3. It will also be apparent by reference to Figures 1, 3 and 4 of the drawings that side wall apertures 31 are provided in the annular wall of the cup-like body, said apertures extending upwardly through the outwardly turned body llange 26.

If desired, the cup-like body lmay be formed in the manner illustrated in Figure 5 with its bottom 32 per forated as in the other cup-like body, and with its annular side wall 33 press fitted into an oiset seat tlange 34 of the spout base portion 35. The annular side wall is provided with apertures 36, and the apertures in the bottom are designated 37.

It will be notdY that the union 25, 26 or 34 of the respective cup-like body with the spout provides a stop means engageable with the` breast neck 15 for limiting outward projection of the spout in the manner illustrated in Figure 1. It will also be noted by reference to Figure l that when the spout is in its effective, projected position, the bottom 28 or 32 willV traverse the pouring throat or the entrant end of the spout.

In Figure 2 of the drawing a closure cap generally designated 38 and including a threaded skirt 39 is removably mounted on the breast 6. The cap includes a central closure body portion 40 and a gasket or sealing ring 41 disposed to seat against the seal seat provided by the relatively narrow annulus 10. The removable closure cap 38 provides a primary closure, and a supplemental closure 42 may be inserted in the spout in engagement with the seat 20 in the manner clearly illustrated in Figure 2.

When the spout is positioned in the manner illustrated in Figure 1, the bottom of the cuplike bal-lie means forms a perforate baffle wall traversing the entrance into the spout and serving to restrict the outflowing of liquid when the container is tilted so that the liquid will pass through the baffle wall less rapidly than it will clear the elongated spout. In this manner, it is impossible to completely ll the spout and choke the same against ingress of air, and yet the particular arrangement of apertures 29 and 30 or 37 in the cup-like member bottom and also the annular wall apertures 31 or 36 will provide suitable liquid ow and air venting apertures effective to assure smooth and continuous outpouring of liquid without gurgling. It will be noted that the apertures 31 or 36 in the annular wall of the cup-like baiiie means are placed so that they will open outwardly into the interior of the container when the spout is in its effective, projected position, and regardless of the position of adjustment of the spout some of the apertures always will be disposed at a high point for freely venting air into the interior of the container for relieving vacuum therein duringthe outpouring of liquid.

While it is preferred that the cup-like baffle vent meansy be attached to and movable with a spout which is projectable and retractable between an effective projected position and a retracted position as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, said means may be directly attached to a rigidly mounted pouring throat or nozzle. For example, a cup-like baffle vent means such as is illustrated in Figure y5 might be directly attached to a pouring throat in the form, of a breast such as is illustrated in Figure l, the attachment being by press iit engagement of the vannular VWall of the cup-like body with the downwardly 'directed annular friction llange of said breast.

While example forms of the invention have been shown for purposes of illustration, it is to be clearly vunderstood that various changes in the details of construction and arrangementof parts may be made Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a container structure, a pouring spout through which liquid is to be poured, means mounting said spout so that it can be retracted into the container or projected into pouring position, a cup-like body attached to the spout and having an apertured bottom traversing the entrant end of the spout and an annular Wall forming an entrance into the spout `and `having apertures opening radially outwardly therethrough into the interior of the container when the spout is projected, and means forming a union between the spout and said body and constituting stop means limiting outward projection of the spout from the container, said spout mounting means comprising a sheet metal breast having an upstanding threaded wall portion and a depressed central portion providing an .annular friction neck spaced inwardly from said threaded wall portion for receiving the spout and providing a stop for limiting outward movement of the spout, and said union forming means comprising a flange connection between the spout and the cup-like body and engageable as a stop with the friction neck `stop and so placed as to position the radially outwardly opening body openings inwardly of and withinsaid threaded breast wall when said stops are in engagement.

2. In avcontainer structure, a pouring spout through which liquid is to be poured, means mounting said spout so that it can be retracted into the container or -projected into pouring position, a cup-like body having an apertured bottom, an outwardlyvturned ange at its upper extremity and an annular wall forming an entrance into the spout and having apertures opening radially outwardly therethrough into the interior of the container when the spout is extended and also extending through said outwardly turned ilange, and ange means on the spout and embracing and forming a union with the body ange and constituting stop `means limiting outward projection of the spout from the container.

3. In a container structure, a pouring spout through which liquid is to be poured, means mounting said spout so that it can be retracted into the container or projected into pouring position, a cup-like body attached to the spout and having an apertured bottom traversing the entrant end of the spout and an annular wall forming an entrance into the spout and having apertures opening radially outwardly therethrough into the interior of the container when the spout is projected, said spout mounting means comprising a sheet metal breast having an upstanding threaded wall portion and a depressed central portion providing an annular friction neck spaced inwardly from said threaded wall portion for receiving the spout and providing a stop for limiting outward movement of the spout, the portion of the spout receivable in said friction neck being cylindrical in shape and turnable in said friction neck, and the portion of said spout outwardly of said cylindrical portion being angle bent with relation to the axis of said cylindrical portion and the cup-like body whereby the outlet end of the spout can be placed in various angular positions accordingly as the spout is turned on its friction neck mounting.

4. In a container structure, a pouring spout through which liquid is to be poured, means mounting said spout so that it can be retracted into the container or projected into pouring` position, and a baffle wall carried by and movable with the spout and traversing the entrant end thereof and having liquid passing and air venting apertures therein, said spout mounting means comprising a sheet metal breast, said breast having an upstanding threaded wall portion, a narrow annular inwardly turned seal seat, a depressed central portion forming an inwardly projecting annular shoulder, and an annular friction neck projecting downwardly from the innermost portion of said annular shoulder, the spout being pro` jectable and retractable through said neck and having a portion for frictionally engaging said neck when projected and also an outwardly turned flange adapted to rest on said annular shoulder when the spout is retracted, a closure threadable on said neck and having a sealing gasket engageable with said seal seat, and a closure removably mounted in the spout within said ange.

5.*in a container structure, a pouring spout through which liquid is to be poured, means mounting said spout so that it can be retracted into the container or projected into pouring position, and a baHe Wall carried by and movable with the spout and traversing the entrant end thereof and having liquid passing and air venting apertures therein, said spout mounting means comprising a sheet metal breast, said breast having an upstanding ythreaded wall portion, a narrow :annular inwardly turned seal seat, a depressed central 4port-ion forming an annular shoulder,v and a downwardly projecting annular friction neck, the spout being projeotable and retractable through said neck and having -a portion for `frictionally engaging said neck when projected and also an outwardly turned ange adapted lto rest on said annular shoulder when the spout is retracted, a closure threadable on said neck and having a sealing gasket engageable with said seal seat, and a closure Yremovably mounted in the spoutvwithin said flange, the bafe Wall constituting the bottom Vof a `cup-like body having an annular wall attached by a ange union with lthe spout with said union disposed to constitute a .stop engageable with said neck for limiting projection of the spout through the neck, said annular wall forming an entrance into the spout and having apertures therein opening radially outwardly into the interior of the .container Within said upstanding threaded 'wall -portion when the spout is in its projected position.

6. In a container structure, a pouring throat through which liquid is' to be poured, and a shallow cup-like member including a bottom traversing said throat and equipped with a plurality of large liquid passing and air venting apertures, and an `annular generally iy'lindrical wall extending endwise from said bottom and equipped with a plurality of large liquid passing and venting apertures disposed with their axes traversing the axis of said annular wall, and an outwardly flared pouring spout extending outwardly from said annular wall.

p 7. In a container structure, a pouring spout through which liquid is to be poured, means mounting said spout so that it can be retracted into the container or projected into pouring position, and a baffle wall carried by and movable with the spout and traversing the entrant end thereof and having a plurality of large liquid passing and air venting apertures therein, said spout also having a plurality of large apertures opening radially outwardly therethrough adjacent said bathe wall, and means accurately placing the spout when in its projected position to place its radially outwardly opening apertures in position for opening into the interior of the container.

8. In a container structure, a pouring spout through which liquid is to be poured, means mounting said spout so that it can be retracted into the container or projected into pouring position, and a shallow cup-like body attached to the spout and having a flat bottom extendingr across the Whole entrant end of the spout and having a plurality of large liquid passing and air venting apertures therein and a generally cylindrical wall forming an entrance into the spout and having apertures opening radially outwardly therethrough adjacent said bottom in position for opening into the interior of the container when the spout is projected.

9. In a container structure, a pouring spout through which liquid is to be poured, means mounting said spout so that it can be retracted into the container or projected into pouring position, a shallow cup-like body attached to the spout and having a bottom traversing the entrant end of the spout and having a plurality of large liquid passing and air venting apertures therein and an annular wall forming an entrance into the spout and having a plurality of large apertures opening radially outwardly therethrough adjacent said bottom in position for opening into the interior of the container when the spout is projected, and means forming a union between the spout and said body and constituting stop means limiting outward projection of the spout from the container and accurately placing the spout, when projected, with said radially opening apertures in said interior communicating position.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 596,369 Jackson Dec. 28, 1897 929,974 McNutt Aug. 3, 1909 1,120,313 Kessler Dec. 8, 1914 1,594,640 Spindler Aug. 3, 1926 2,049,900 Evans et al. Aug. 4, 1936 2,120,592 Leonhart June 14, 1938 2,328,020 Johnson Aug. 3l, 1943 2,480,606 Rabbitt Aug. 30, 1949 2,483,148 Nicolle Sept. 27, 1949 2,498,318 Violette Feb. 21, 1950 2,545,178 Vaughn Mar. 3l, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 223,168 Great Britain Oct. 16, 1924 

